Seed tape including successively arranged germinating units

ABSTRACT

A seed tape ( 1 ) including successively arranged germinating units ( 1   a,    1   b,    1   c ). The seed tape includes at least one carrier strip ( 3 ) as well as at least one auxiliary layer ( 5 ) arranged thereon and made of a biodegradable, flexible, non-woven, film-like material. Locally, the auxiliary layer ( 5 ) can be interrupted over a short distance along the seed tape ( 1 ). Each germinating unit ( 1   a,    1   b,    1   c ) includes a mixture ( 6 ) of granulated carrier, at least one granulated additive and optionally an adjuvant in addition to one or more seeds ( 7 ). This mixture ( 6 ) is kept together to form at least one core portion ( 8 ) in the germinating unit. The core portion ( 8 ) includes locally adhered bicomponent fibres ( 18 ) of one or more thermoplastic materials which form a coherent open network ( 8   a ) for keeping the granules ( 6   a ) of the mixture ( 5 ) and possibly also one or more seeds ( 7 ) together. In this manner it is possible in a very simple and reliable manner to retain the carrier, the additive and the adjuvant, if any.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a seed tape including successively arrangedgerminating units, and which further includes at least one carrier stripas well at least one auxiliary layer of biodegradable, flexible,non-woven or film-like material arranged on said carrier strip, wherebythe auxiliary layer is optionally locally interrupted a short distancealong the seed tape, and whereby each germinating unit includes amixture of granulated carrier and at least one granulated additive andoptionally an adjuvant in addition to one or more seeds, said mixtureplus the seed(s) being kept together to form at least one core portionin the germinating unit, as well as whereby said seed tape canoptionally be cut into separate germinating units prior to theirrigation and/or the bedding out.

Background Art

The term “carrier” is here to be construed as a material including atleast one of the substances: granulated expanded vermiculite, perlite,zeolite, cellulose materials, such as wood fibres and sphagnum, burnedclay, rock wool or the like substances, whereby it is possible to obtaina desired degree of water conveying capacity, ion exchanging propertiesetc.

The term “additive” is here primarily to be construed as water-absorbingmaterials, such as superabsorbing materials, i.e. absorption of H₂O inorder to achieve a moisture buffer, such as for instance superabsorbingpolymers (SAP).

The expression “adjuvant” should here be understood so as to cover oneor more substances selected among plant nutrients, plant protectants,such as pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, especiallysystemic insecticides, fungicides, virae, cultures of bacteria, culturesof fungi, such as Trikoderma, fungus spores, microencapsulatedfungicides, eggs from useful insects, such as predatory nematodes,fertilizers, enzymes, animal repellents, hormones, pH-adjusting agents,activated carbon, clay particles, trace elements, such as molybdenum,wood fibres or wood powder, kieselguhr, surfactants or other substanceswith a favourable effect on the germination and the growth of plants,where several substances are available in microencapsulated form.

The expression “biodegradable” material is here to be construed as amaterial gradually disintegrating and/or being part of the ordinarybiological food chain within a measurable period when left alone in itsnatural state.

The handling of seed tapes is often encumbered with the problem that thecarrier, the additives and the possible adjuvants have a tendency tosift out of the individual germinating units, viz the pockets, whichpresents a rather disadvantageous feature because a careful control ofthe pesticides inserted, such as for instance Gaucho, is desired. Inaddition, extra care should be taken that the materials being insertedin the germinating units remain in the initial locations because themanufacturing of such seed tapes must be carried out at a very highspeed, viz several hundred m/min.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a seed tape of the above typewhich ensures a particularly reliable retention of the carrier, theadditives and the possible adjuvant in each germinating unit.

The seed tape according to the invention is characterised in that thecore portion made of the above mixture includes locally adheredbicomponent fibres of one or more thermoplastic materials which form acoherent, open network for keeping the granules of the mixture andpossibly also one or more seeds together. As a result, the carrier, theadditives, i.e. in particular pesticides and possible adjuvants areefficiently retained in the network whereby the sifting tendency hasbeen minimized. In this manner the seed tape is suited for a veryhigh-speed manufacturing procedure optionally involving significantstress loads caused by strong accelerations/decelerations of the tape.

According to the invention, the thermoplastic material(s) of thebicomponent fibres may be biodegradable with the result that the seedtape is particularly environmentally friendly.

Moreover, the bicomponent fibres forming the network may according tothe invention be of the coaxial type where the outer component of thefibre presents a lower melting point than the inner component of thefibre, preferably in such a manner that the outer component presents amelting point of approximately 110 to 130° C. and the inner componentpresents a melting point of approximately 160 to 300° C. Such a typeturned out to provide a particularly reliable network.

According to the invention the seed may be placed in an incision in thecore portion, said incision preferably being of a depth of 25 to 50%,especially 33 to 40% of the thickness of said core portion. In thismanner the seed is well protected inside the core portion.

Moreover, the outer component of each bicomponent fibre may according tothe invention be made of polylactide (derived from lactic acid) (PLA)having a relatively low melting point, whereas the inner component ofsaid fibre may be made of polylactide (derived from lactic acid) (PLA)having a relatively high melting point. The resulting network isparticularly reliable and biodegradable.

According to the invention one component of each bicomponent fibre mayfor instance be made of polyester (PET) or polyethylene (PE) having arelatively low melting point, whereas the other component of said fibremay be made of polypropylene (PP) having a comparatively higher meltingpoint. These substances turned out to be particularly suited materialsfor the network.

In addition, each bicomponent fibre may according to the invention be ofa length of 0.1 to 6.5 mm, preferably 0.2 to 3.5 mm, especially 1 to 2mm, and a fineness of 1 to 5 Decitex, preferably 3 Decitex, which turnedout to be particularly advantageous.

According to the invention the incision may form an angle of 40 to 65°,such as 45 to 55°, with the longitudinal axis of the seed tape, whichturned out to be particularly advantageous.

Furthermore, the incision may according to the invention besubstantially Z-shaped with the result that it is particularly easy toinsert the seed into the core portion.

According to the invention the carrier strip may be made of abiodegradable material, such as paper, preferably paper of a weight of20 to 50, especially 25 to 35 g/m², and optionally be permeable to gas.

According to the invention the auxiliary layer may be permeable to gasand for instance be made of thin paper, which turned out to be aparticularly advantageous material.

Moreover according to the invention, the carrier may be a granulatedvermiculite, where less than 2% of the vermiculite are of a grain sizeof up to 0.4 mm and the remaining percentages are of a grain size of0.25 to 4 mm, or the carrier may be a Leca-like material (Leca is aregistered Trade Mark) or a fibre-like material, such as stone ormineral wool fibres or cellulose fibres, in particular coarse cellulosefibres, and the additive may include a superabsorbing polymer (SAP) inform of a polymer based on starch or cellulose or acrylate. The coreportions of the seed tape turned out to work particularly well inconnection with such a carrier and such an additive.

According to the invention, the carrier strip and/or the auxiliary layermay be made of a thermoplastic material, such as polypropylene orpolylactide (derived from lactic acid) (PLA), said material preferablybeing of a weight of 15 to 30 g/m², especially 18 to 22 g/m², inparticular 20 g/m². Such a material turned out to be particularlyadvantageous.

Moreover it is according to the invention rendered possible that thecore portion including the bicomponent fibres is fastened to the carrierstrip and/or the auxiliary layer by using the adhesiveness of saidbicomponent fibres and/or by means of glue. The resulting fastening ofthe core portion to the carrier strip and/or the auxiliary layer isparticularly reliable.

Moreover, the auxiliary layer may according to the invention be a gluelayer which on the outer side covers the core portion, whereby aparticularly simple embodiment of the seed tape is obtained.

According to the invention the bicomponent fibres of polylactide(derived from lactic acid) (PLA) may form 4 to 9, especially 7 to 8% byweight of the mixture, whereas the superabsorbing polymer (SAP) may form1 to 7% by weight, especially approximately 2.5% by weight of themixture, and the rest may for instance be vermiculite or wooden dust. Asa result, the core portion achieves a particularly good grip about theSAP granules.

In addition according to the invention, at least the mixture includingthe bicomponent fibres may have been subjected to a short heating to nomore than approximately 125° C., such as by means of ultrasound or hotair before it is inserted in the seed tape with the result that thecompleted core portion is provided with a particularly good cohesiveforce.

According to the invention the bicomponent fibres of the core portionand optionally also the carrier, the additive and the adjuvant, if any,may have been placed on the carrier strip by means of air. The resultingcore portion is provided in a particularly simple way.

Furthermore, each core portion including the bicomponent fibres mayaccording to the invention be provided by heating a mixture ofbicomponent fibres, carrier, additive and adjuvant, if any, and followedby a cooling thereof so as to form a “rod”, each core portion then beingcut off said “rod”. In this manner the seed tape is particularlyinexpensive to manufacture.

According to the invention, the seed(s) or the granules of the mixturemay have been placed on the carrier strip or in the core portion by saidseed(s) or granules being magnetized through a coating and thereby beingattracted to the carrier strip or the core portion by means of smalllumps or stripes of permanent-magnet-powder, such asstrontium-barium-ferrite powder, optionally titanium dioxide and bariumferrite powder, arranged on said carrier strip or on said core portion.In this manner a particularly reliable placing of the seed(s) or thegranules in the seed tape is obtained.

Furthermore, the coating used on the seed(s) or the granules mayaccording to the invention include starch, such as paste, or polymers aswell as magnetic powder in form of iron powder for instance of a grainsize of 17 to 23 μm, especially 20 μm, plus possible insecticides,fungicides or other adjuvants. The resulting positioning of the seeds orthe granules in the seed tape is particularly accurate.

In addition, the carrier may according to the invention have beenmicroencapsulated before it is placed in the core portion with theresult that these substances are particularly well controlled.

Moreover according to the invention, the length of the core portionincluding the bicomponent fibres may be smaller than the width of thecarrier strip, said length preferably being maximum 80% of said width.In this manner it is additionally ensured that possible granules withpesticides do not accidentally sift out of the seed tape.

Furthermore according to the invention the bicomponent fibres and/or thecarrier strip and/or the auxiliary layer may be made of a polymer basedon starch, cellulose or acrylate with the result that a particularlygood biodegradability is obtained.

In addition, when the carrier strip is made of paper and a secondcarrier strip is made of PLA and an auxiliary layer is made of paper orPLA, then the seed tape may according to the invention be characterisedin that the auxiliary layer is secured to the PLA carrier strip by meansof a pressure-sensitive or heat-sensitive glue, which has been appliedonto the auxiliary layer preferably in advance. In this manner the seedtape can be manufactured in a particularly easy and fast manner.

According to the invention the individual germinating units may beseparated by means of at least one perforated line, preferably tworelatively closely arranged perforated lines. As a result, the seed tapezigzag-packed in a germinating container folds automatically in acontrolled manner because the seed tape is particularly ready to be bentalong the perforated lines. The perforated lines ensure an exactseparation of the germinating units in connection with a fully automatedmachinery bedding out.

In addition, each core portion may according to the invention include arecess in which one or more seeds is/are placed, said seed(s) beingretained by means of glue or magnetic particles. In this manner eachseed is ensured an accurate placing in the tape which is a vital factorin connection with a fully automated machinery bedding out.

Moreover, the seed tape may in the areas outside the core portionspresent a thickness of 6 to 15 mm, preferably 7 to 9 mm. As a result theseed tape with the materials, plants and plant roots placed therein canpass the advancing and separating mechanism of a bedding out machinewithout being damaged, said mechanism including two sets of advancingwheels, where the second set of wheels rotate at a higher speed than thefirst set of wheels in such a manner that the structure and content ofplant roots of each germinating unit remain intact although saidgerminating units are partially separated in the advancing andseparating mechanism.

Finally, the invention relates to a web to be cut into juxtaposed seedtapes, said web including a carrier strip of PLA and an auxiliary stripof paper before it is subjected to the cutting procedure, and where arow of core portions are provided between said strips, said web beingcharacterised in that the carrier strip and the auxiliary strip with thecore portions therebetween are such that the auxiliary strip includes atleast one longitudinal rim area parallel to longitudinal edges of thecarrier strip and projecting beyond at least one of said edges, wherebyat least one marker opening is shaped in said rim area opposite each rowof core portions, said marker opening preferably being square andproduced by way of punching. The resulting manufacture of the seed tapeaccording to the invention is particularly easy because said seed tapecan be produced by cutting said web into tapes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an embodiment of the seedtape according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a core portion,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the bicomponent fibres of thenetwork,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bicomponent fibre, where saidbicomponent fibre is of the coaxial type,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bicomponent fibre, where the twocomponents of the fibre are juxtaposed,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a core portion, where an inclinedincision in said core portion appears particularly clearly,

FIG. 7 illustrates a second embodiment of the seed tape according to theinvention, where the length of each core portion is smaller than thewidth of the carrier strip of the seed tape, and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a web to be cut into juxtaposed seedtapes.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The seed tape of FIG. 1 includes many successively arranged germinatingunits, only the first three germinating units being designated areference numeral, viz. 1 a, 1 b and 1 c. As illustrated, the seed tapeincludes at least one carrier strip 3 as well as at least one auxiliarylayer 5 of biodegradable, flexible, non-woven or film-like material andbeing placed on said carrier strip. The auxiliary layer 5 can be locallyinterrupted over a short distance along the seed tape, which, however,has not been illustrated. The carrier strip 3 and the auxiliary layer 5can optionally be locally joined by means of transverse glue zones, oneend of such a glue zone being indicated at 4.

In addition to one or more seeds 7, each germinating unit 1 a, 1 b, 1 cincludes a mixture of granulated carrier, at least a granulated additiveand optionally an adjuvant, cf the previous definition of saidsubstances. The mixture is kept together to form a core portion 8 ineach germinating unit.

Ordinarily the seed tape is in form of one long tape during thedrenching so as to allow the seeds to germinate and/or be bedded out,but nothing prevents the seed tape from being cut into separategerminating units prior to the drenching and/or the bedding out. Thecore portion 8 includes the above mixture 6 as well as locally gluedbicomponent fibres of one or more thermoplastic materials 8 whichtogether form a coherent open network, cf. in particular at 8 a. Thenetwork surrounds the granules 6 a of the mixture 6 in such a mannerthat said granules are retained in a specific position relative to theseed(s) 7. In addition, the network assists in maintaining the optimumwater-air-balance about the seed, said balance usually corresponding to75% of water and 25% of air for most types of seeds with the result thatvarious gases can easily reach the seed and that detrimental gas, suchas ethylene, can leave the seed and the adjacent surroundings before thegerminating seed suffers from a detrimental effect.

The thermoplastic material(s) of the bicomponent fibres 8 a can bebiodegradable.

FIG. 4 illustrates how a bicomponent fibre 18 forming the network can beof the coaxial type where the outer component 18 a of the fibre presentsa lower melting point than the inner component 18 b, preferably in sucha manner that the outer component presents a melting point ofapproximately 110 to 130° C. and the inner component presents a meltingpoint of approximately 160 to 300° C.

It should be noted that usually the seed(s) 7 is/are not inserted in thecore portion 8 from the beginning because usually they cannot toleratethe temperatures to which said core portion must be heated in order tomake the bicomponent fibres stick together.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, one or more seeds can be inserted in anincision 10 in the core portion 8. The incision 10 presents preferably adepth d of 25 to 50%, especially 33 to 40% of the thickness t of thecore portion 8.

Concerning the materials of the bicomponent fibres it should be notedthat the outer component 18 a of each fibre can for instance be made ofpolylactide (derived from lactic acid) (PLA) having a relatively lowmelting point whereas the inner component 18 b of said fibre can be madeof polylactide (derived from lactic acid) (PLA) having a relatively highmelting point.

It is also possible that the first component 18 a of each bicomponentfibre can be made of polyethylene (PE) having a relatively low meltingpoint, whereas the other component 28 b of said fibre can be made ofpolypropylene (PP) or polyester (PET) having a comparatively highermelting point.

Each bicomponent fibre can be of a length of 0.1 to 6.5 mm, preferably0.2 to 3.5 mm, especially 1 to 2 mm, and a fineness of 1 to 5 Decitex,preferably 3 Decitex.

As shown in FIG. 6, the incision 10 can form an angle v of 40 to 65°,such as 45 to 55°, with the longitudinal axis A of the seed tape.

As shown in FIG. 2, the incision 10 can be substantially Z-shaped.

The carrier strip 3 can be made of a biodegradable material, such aspaper, preferably paper of a weight of 20 to 50, especially 25 to 35g/m², and optionally be permeable to gas and for instance be made ofthin paper.

As far as the carrier and the additive of the core portion 8 areconcerned, said carrier can be a granulated water-absorbing material,such as vermiculite, where less than 2% of the vermiculite are of agrain size of up to 0.4 mm and the remaining percentages are of a grainsize of 0.25 to 4 mm, or the carrier can be a Leca-like material (Lecais a registered Trade Mark) of a fibre-like material, such as stone ormineral wool fibres or cellulose fibres, in particular coarse cellulosefibres, whereas the additive can include a superabsorbing polymer (SAP)in form of a polymer based on starch or cellulose Or acrylate.

The carrier strip 3 and/or the auxiliary layer 5 can be made of athermoplastic material, such as polypropylene or polylactide (derivedfrom lactic acid) (PLA), preferably of a weight of 15 to 30 g/m²,especially 18 to 22 g/m², in particular 20 g/m². The core portion 8 canbe secured to the carrier strip 3 and/or the auxiliary layer 5 by usingthe adhesiveness of the bicomponent fibres 18 and/or by means of anadhesive. According to a particularly simple embodiment of the seedtape, the auxiliary layer 5 is per se formed by a glue layer, which onthe outer side covers the core portion 8; said embodiment not beingshown, however.

As far as the composition of the core portion is concerned it should benoted that the bicomponent fibres of polylactide (derived from lacticacid) (PLA) can form 4 to 9, especially 7 to 8% by weight of the abovemixture 6, and the superabsorbing polymer (SAP) can form 1 to 7% byweight, especially 2.5% by weight of the mixture, whereas the remainingportion can be vermiculite or wooden dust.

Concerning the manufacture of the core portion 8 forming part of theseed tape, it should be noted that said core portion is made of amixture which 6 includes bicomponent fibres 18 and can have been heatedto maximum approximately 125° C., such as by way of ultrasound or hotair, with the result that one component of the bicomponent fibre can bemelted without the other fibre component being melted.

The bicomponent fibres 18 of the core portion 8 and optionally also thecarrier, the additive and the adjuvant can be laid down on the carrierstrip by means of air, which has not been illustrated.

Each core portion 8 can be provided by heating a mixture of bicomponentfibres 18, carrier, additive and adjuvant, where said mixture has thenbeen cooled to form a “rod” not shown and from which each core portion 8can be cut off. As a result, the seed tape can be manufactured at aparticularly low price.

The seed(s) 7 as well as the granules 6 a of the above mixture can belaid down on the carrier strip 3 or in the core portion 8 by said seed 7or granules 6 a being magnetized through a coating and thereby beingattracted to the carrier strip 3 or the core portion 8 by means of smalllumps or stripes of magnetic powder, in form of astrontium-barium-ferrite powder, optionally titanium dioxide and bariumferrite powder, arranged on said carrier strip 3 or on said core portion8.

The coating used on the seed(s) or the granules can include starch, suchas paste, or polymers as well as a magnetic powder in form of ironpowder for instance of a grain size of 17 to 23 μm, especially 20 μm,plus possible insecticides, fungicides and other adjuvants.

The carrier has optionally been microencapsulated before it is insertedin the core portion 8.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the length a of the bicomponent fibreincluding the core portion 8 can be smaller than the width b of thecarrier strip 23. The length a of the core portion is preferably maximum80% of the width b of the carrier strip.

The invention may be modified in many ways without thereby deviatingfrom the scope of the invention. Thus nothing prevents the seed tapefrom including two carrier strips 3 instead of one carrier strip 3 ofPLA and an auxiliary layer 5 of PLA. One of these two carrier strips canfor instance be made of PLA and two auxiliary layers 5 where one layeris made for instance of PLA and the other layer is made of for instancepaper, and the other carrier strip can for instance be made of paper.

Correspondingly, the bicomponent fibres 18 and/or the carrier strip 3and/or the auxiliary layer 6 can be made of a polymer based on starch,cellulose or acrylate.

Nothing prevents the carrier strip 3 from being made of a biodegradable,flexible, non-woven or film-like material.

The above magnetic lumps and stripes on the carrier strip or the coreportion can also be used as markers for marking the exact position ofthe core portions in connection with the production of the seed tape.

In the seed tape according to the invention, the carrier strip 3 can forinstance be made of paper, a second carrier strip not shown can be madeof PLA and an auxiliary layer 5 can be made of paper or PLA. Theauxiliary layer 5 can be secured to the PLA carrier strip by means of apressure-sensitive or heat-sensitive glue which has been applied ontosaid auxiliary layer 5 preferably in advance.

The individual germinating units 1 a, 1 b, 1 c can be separated by meansof at least one perforated line 4, preferably two relatively closelyarranged perforated lines.

Each core portion 8 can include a recess in which one or more seedsis/are placed, where said seed(s) can be retained by means of glue ormagnetic particles.

In the areas outside the core portions 8, the seed tape can present athickness of 6 to 15 mm, preferably 7 to 9 mm.

A web to be cut into juxtaposed seed tapes 1 a, 1 b, 1 c can include acarrier strip 30 of PLA and an auxiliary strip 50 of paper before it issubjected to the cutting procedure, a row of core portions 8 beingprovided between said strips. The carrier strip 30 and the auxiliarystrip 50 with the core portions 8 therebetween are such that theauxiliary strip 50 includes at least one longitudinal rim area 20parallel to longitudinal edges of the carrier strip and projectingbeyond at least one of said edges. At least one market opening 52 can beshaped in the rim area opposite each row of core portions 8, said markeropening preferably being square and produced by way of punching.

1. A seed tape (1) including successively arranged germinating units (1a, 1 b, 1 c), and which further includes at least one carrier strip (3)as well as at least one auxiliary layer (5) of biodegradable, flexible,non-woven or film-like material arranged on said carrier strip, wherebysaid auxiliary layer (5) is locally interrupted a short distance alongthe seed tape (1), and whereby each germinating unit (1 a, 1 b, 1 c)includes a mixture of granulated carrier, at least one granulatedadditive and an adjuvant in addition to one or more seeds (7), saidmixture plus the seed(s) being kept together to form at least one coreportion (8) in the germinating unit, as well as whereby said seed tapecan be cut into separate germinating units prior to the irrigationand/or the bedding out, the core portion (8) made of said mixtureincluding locally adhered fibers (18) of one or more thermoplasticmaterials which form a coherent, open network (8 a) for keeping thegranules (6 a) of the mixture together, characterised in that the fibresof one or more thermoplastic materials which form the network (18 a) arebicomponent fibres, and that the seed or seeds (7) is/are placed in anincision (10) in the core portion (8), said incision (10) being of adepth (d) of 25 to 50%, of the thickness (t) of said core portion (8).2. A seed tape as claimed in claim 1, characterize in, that the outercomponent (18 a) of each bicomponent fibre is made of polylactide(derived from lactic acid) (PLA) having a relatively low melting point,whereas the inner component of said fibre is made of polylactide(derived from lactic acid) (PLA) having a relatively high melting point.3. A seed tape as claimed in claim 1, characterised in, that theincision (10) forms an angle (v) of 40 to 65°, with the longitudinalaxis (A) of the seed tape.
 4. A seed tape as claimed in claim 1,characterised in, that the incision (10) is substantially Z-shaped.
 5. Aseed tape as claimed claim 1, characterized in, that the carrier strip(3) and/or the auxiliary layer (5) are made of a thermoplastic material,said material being of a weight of 15 to 30 g/m².
 6. A seed tape asclaimed in claim 1, characterized in, that the bicomponent fibres (18)of polylactide (derived from lactic acid) (PLA) form 4 to 9, by weightof the mixture, whereas a superabsorbing polymer (SAP) forms 1 to 7% byweight, of said mixture.
 7. A seed tape as claimed in claim 1,characterised 5 in, that the bicomponent fibres (18) of the core portionand optionally also the carrier, the additive and the adjuvant, if any,have been placed on the carrier strip (3) by means of air.
 8. A seedtape as claimed in claim 1, characterised in, that the seed(s) (7) orthe granules of the mixture has/have been placed on the carrier strip(3) or in the core portion (8) by said seed(s) or granules beingmagnetized through a coating and thereby being attracted to the carrierstrip (3) or the core portion (8) by means of small lumps or stripes ofpermanent-magnet-powder, arranged on said carrier strip or on said coreportion.
 9. A seed tape as claimed in claim 8, characterised in, thatthe coating used on the seed(s) (7) or the granules include starch, orpolymers as well as magnetic powder in form of iron powder, plusinsecticides, fungicides or other adjuvants.
 10. A seed tape as claimedin claim 1, characterised in, that the carrier has beenmicroencapsulated before it is placed in the core portion (8).
 11. Aseed tape as claimed in claim 1, in which the carrier strip (3) is madeof paper, a second carrier strip not shown is made of PLA, and anauxiliary layer (5) is made of paper or PLA, characterised in that theauxiliary layer (5) is secured to the PLA carrier strip by means of apressure-sensitive or heat-sensitive glue, which has been applied ontothe auxiliary layer in advance.
 12. A seed tape as claimed in claim 1,characterised in that in said incision (IP) in which one or more seed(s)(7) is/are placed, said seed(s) is/are retained by means of glue ormagnetic particles.
 13. A seed tape as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidincision (10) is of a depth (d) of 33 to 40% of the thickness (t) ofsaid core portion (8).
 14. A seed tape as claimed in claim 3, whereinsaid angle (v) is 45 to 55°.
 15. A seed tape as claimed in claim 5,wherein said material has a weight of 18 to 22 g/m².
 16. A seed tape asclaimed in claim 5, wherein said material has a weight of 20 g/m².
 17. Aseed tape as claimed in claim 6, wherein said biocomponent fibres form 7to 8% by weight of the mixture and said superabosorbing polymer forms2.5% by weight of the mixture.
 18. A seed tape as claimed in claim 8,wherein said small lumps or stripes of permanent-magnet-powder comprisestrontium-barium-ferrite powder or titanium dioxide and barium ferritepowder.